With any therapy process there is ongoing personal work that often happens between sessions. Wrestling with important concerns can often bring up additional questions and reflections. The best option is to discuss what is coming up between sessions when we meet at our next session. I would encourage you to keep a list of questions that come up as a part of your process to be addressed at your next session.

I recommend scheduling an additional session in order to honour the process to allow adequate time to dive in deeper. Due to the nature of my practice I will respond first to urgent matters and I will make a note of additional concerns to bring up at our next appointment.

I request that phone support between session is limited only to emergency situations where there are active safety concerns. Please also contact 24 hour crisis supports in your area if this is the case as I only monitor my voicemail during my business hours.

There are many different motivations for coming to therapy and ultimately the decision to seek therapeutic support is an individual choice. Some of the reasons that people come to therapy include going though or considering a major life transition, (career change, divorce, loss, betrayal). We can all experience times in our lives when the demands on us exceed our ability to cope with day-to-day stressors. Other motivations for seeking counselling include seeking assistance in managing other issues such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationship problems, grief, stress management, spiritual concerns, and creative blocks. Counselling can help provide encouragement and help increase practical skills to manage such challenges. Other’s seek therapy because they are at a point in their lives where they wish to deepen their self-understanding and to reach their goals in life.

Those who receive the greatest benefit from participating in therapy are interested in creating greater self-awareness, to face the current challenges in their lives in a safe and supportive environment and to take responsibility towards making changes inter lives in order to get the most out of their life.

Therapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the therapist and the client and the issues that are being addressed. There are many different methods I use in my practice including but not limited to: Solution-focused counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems Therapy, Energy Psychology, Spiritually Directed Therapy, Embodied Awareness, Mindfulness Approaches, and Client Centred Approaches. Please feel free to ask about any of these approaches at anytime. See the About Me (link to section) section for more information on each of these approaches.
In general, you can expect to discuss current events happening in your life, your personally history that is relevant to your concerns and goals for therapy, and reports on progress gained from therapy, any new insights between sessions.

The type of therapy that I practice calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on the things we talk about during our sessions. The therapeutic process is collaborative; your knowledge and life experiences will contribute to the therapeutic change you experience. Throughout the therapy process I will recommend activities or exercises for you to do at home that will contribute to the success you experience. In order for therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about. It is important to understand that you will get the most from therapy if you are an active participant in the process, both in and between sessions.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?2015-11-22T18:20:34+00:00

Confidentiality is one of the most important factors in the relationship between a client and a therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust in the relationship. You can expect that I will not share what you discuss in sessions with anyone else. In some cases you may want for me to consult with another professional (such as a family doctor, psychiatrist, lawyer, employer, etc.). I can only release the relevant information with your written consent.

However, there are three conditions under which I am ethically and legally bound to share information with others:

When there is a risk of serious and imminent danger to yourself or others.

When there is reasonable suspicion that a child or any vulnerable person is being sexually, physically, or emotionally/psychologically abused or neglected, or is at risk of such abuse.

When the court issues a subpeona regarding information that has been shared in therapy or obtained as part of an assessment.

These situations have rarely occurred in my practice. If a similar situation occurs, I will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.

If you are a minor, parental consent is required for me to meet with you. Conditions of confidentially regarding minors need to be negotiated with a parent/guardian.

It has been well documented that medication alone cannot solve the pain caused by mental and emotional problems. Therapy addresses the underlying causes of our distress and the behaviour patterns that block us from making progress towards our goals rather than just resting the symptoms. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the best course of action. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what is best for you.
An integrative approach to healing can help you to address body, mind and spirit for overall healing. Each level is important to our overall growth and development.

Do I need the consent of my child’s other parent before booking an appointment for him/her?2015-11-22T18:21:33+00:00

Yes. This is a requirement especially if there is a matter related to family separation or child custody. If there is a court order in place for sole custody or stating that the other parent does not need to provide consent for counselling please consult with me before scheduling your child’s appointment.

You do not need a referral in order to schedule an appointment. However, some extended health benefits do require a referral from a doctor. Please check to see if this applies to your own extended health care plan in advance.

Alberta Health Care does not cover counselling services. Most extended Health Insurance plans, such as those carried by several employers, provide at least partial coverage for psychologist fees. Since coverage varies among insurers, individuals should contact their insurance companies.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is contact them directly. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.

Some helpful questions you can ask them:
• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
• How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Additionally, fees for psychological services may be tax deductible if claimed on your personal income tax.

In general, the first stages of making changes in any area of our lives take a lot of conscious focus and accountability to stay on track. It is also important to check in regularly to keep on track and make any necessary adjustments to your individual treatment plan. As a general recommendations, when clients are in crisis I would recommend scheduling sessions from once a week to every two weeks. It may also be beneficial to schedule longer sessions at least for the first one or two sessions. In terms of making and maintaining changes once the crisis phase has passed once every 2 to 3 weeks is recommended. When you have come to the place of stabilization and meeting you goals it is recommended to come in as needed.
Ultimately my goal as a counsellor is to help you develop lifelong skills to cope with life’s challenges and to reduce your need for my services.

How long does it usually take to start to feel better?2015-10-19T18:09:15+00:00

The duration of counselling depends upon several factors such as the issue(s) that is causing concern and the severity of the issue(s), the motivation of the client to change, the goals of therapy and current life circumstances. Most clients report feeling better able to cope with their concerns even after once session. I can work with you to develop a program that fits for you.